Of all the unexpected things that have happened to Mat, somehow, ending up in the Free Cities is among the most unexpected. His immediate reaction is anger, simply because he doesn't enjoy being flung about by magic madcap. That sounds like a damned good way to die! What if he hadn't come out anywhere?
But it's only for a few moments, until he realizes just where he is. And how fortuitous it may be that he's landed here. The first thing he does, after the important info is relayed, is to send a frantic mental note to both Jesper and Kaz, hoping to Light at least one of them got back here.
It seems a lot of them may be quite displaced. Maybe if neither of them made it back, he could try Master Jaskier. He lives in Cadens. Hopefully it won't come to that. Fate can't be so very cruel as to dump him where the two men in his life are and dump them somewhere else.
Jesper and Kaz happened to be together when they received Mat's note so they glanced at each other from across the table and then were on their feet moments later. Jesper sees that people are all talking about it on the network and how this is happening to many, but all he can think about is getting to Mat. The excitement is buzzing through him, having wanted Mat here with them since the start and to think it's happened is insane to him.
They're in a bit of a rush when they get to Portam Hall and Jesper's eyes are wild as he looks everywhere possible, his head jerking around, waiting to see if he can find that familiar mop of dark curls. "There." He murmurs to Kaz, and he's running through the hall. He whistles in warning and then he's slamming into Mat with an eager embrace, pulling his long-time lover into his arms as soon as possible.
"You're here, it's actually you." And it's actually here!
Those first messages to Mat seem like a lifetime or two ago, a time when Kaz still lashed out over talking things through. Okay maybe not all of that has changed, but it has where Mat's concerned. And not just because they had come to understand the other would do almost anything where Jesper was concerned. Mat becoming one of Kaz's people, as he sees it, is a change he had never expected and yet he finds himself glad for.
And still that message comes as a shock, blinking at Jesper a moment before they're on their feet.
Not caring that it hurts to push himself, even if he knows Jesper will hold himself back for Kaz, because the pain simply isn't as important as getting to Portam Hall. Listening as they go, frowning as he considers what this might all mean as he hears of others missing people... or finding them as they seek out Mat.
Before he can say anything, Jesper is off at a long legged run, shaking his head as he follows behind him more sedately. Pausing to lean on his cane, watching the pair for a moment with a small nod no one is likely to notice.
He still can't quite grasp that he's actually here. But he is, and soon he's laughing as Jesper is hugging him and Kaz is making dry jokes. He didn't even need to waive his official letter about!
Of course Mat hadn't been planning to defect to the Free Cities just yet, but who is he to argue with the workings of gods and greater powers? He's here now. And relatively certain he's not going to accidentally do anything disastrous.
Hopefully.
"Long enough, maybe, but not intentionally! Just ended up here!"
He's hugging Jesper back and laughing because right now he can't think of any other way to express himself. He's feeling far too many things at once right now!
Jesper lifts Mat off his feet for a moment and swings him in a little circle before setting him down. He kisses him firmly in greeting and holds his hands, so happy he's practically beaming. Yes he knows that this is only a good thing for them, some of their friends are scattered to the winds and elsewhere, but Jesper's always been good at focusing on one good thing at a time.
He grins over his shoulder at Kaz for his dry comment. It's mattered so much to him that Mat and Kaz not only made their peace but began to care for each other too. It makes his life easier knowing his two closest loves are friendly, and their experience in that vision only proves how good they can all be together.
He slings an arm around Mat's waist and tugs him. "You're staying here now if it's the last bloody thing I do." But no need to worry about fighting Thorne over it just yet. This is only a good thing. "You'll be staying with us in the loft, we have plenty of space." Four people used to live up there comfortably so three will be easy enough. He doesn't ask Kaz because he knows him well enough to make that guess.
Although he does shoot him a quick glance like 'right?'
This is what Kaz has needed to see. Lately he's been hoping it was on their terms, out of both cities and not having to worry about being yanked apart, or having the city force Jesper into enlistment, but this is good.
Better than he knows how to express.
So instead he stands there, his expression soft and content, a lack of tightness around his mouth that very few might remember from that time when he'd walked without a limp and lived as a god. These two might though.
"Of course he will," he says with a nod, glad that Jesper brought it up. He isn't sure if he said it that Mat might not argue with him. Just on principle, because he knew he would.
"Come on. Let's get back there for the time being. Get a drink or something." Hide Mat away before the soldiers or someone tries to change their mind. That kind of or something.
He steps closer though, offering his hand. He's been trying not to turn to his gloves for every day. He doesn't offer many his hands bare though, but again, this is Mat.
It hadn't occurred to Mat there'd be another option. After all this time, he assumed of course he'd be staying with them. But it is a sudden thing. They weren't planning for him to show up.
He slips one arm around Jesper in turn, and gladly takes the hand Kaz offers. It still feels damned special, that the other man allows him that intimacy. Light, his head is still spinning.
"A plan I can agree with, my good man. I could certainly use a rest and a drink. And something a bit cooler to wear, I thought I was going back to proper winter! I'm not prepared for a desert holiday."
Or however long this lasts. He won't think about that now.
"I'll need you two to show me the ropes 'round here."
Jesper feels something very soft in his heart flutter over seeing Kaz willingly put out his bare hand to Mat and take it. He knows how far he's come to be able to do that with anyone, and the trust he has in Mat is important. He feels so full of love in that moment with both of them that he thinks he's going to get overemotional about it. But for now, he's channeling that into joy.
He also agrees that getting Mat away from the military dealing with the incident is the best thing for them. He never trusts them. He releases Mat and instead holds his other hand. (Jesper has two hands and so do they. That's the best part.) They can walk together to Mag's Inn.
Jesper drags Mat up the stairs to the attic once they arrive. It's a nice and comfortable space, frankly better than most of the other rooms even if Jesper worked hard to re-do all of them a bit ago. It's more like its own apartment and it's very lived in now that they've been there.
"I'll remake some of my clothes to fit you." Jesper's fashion is specifically designed for Cadens, so it'll suit him. "No more winter for you, my love."
Kaz lets Jesper lead the way, staying just slightly behind the pair. It takes everything in him not to glance back directly, instead using windows and other surfaces to ensure there's no one following them. He won't let them take Mat back, not when he's this close, and if it comes to it he knows Jesper will handle them with the right call.
And Kaz would deal with anyone that might follow them.
Yet no one did, and that alone felt suspicious to him. Enough so that he locked the door behind them, then propped his cane not by the door but under the handle. Crossing to the windows, doing the same there, showing more of his paranoia than he lets most see from him. He didn't want others to know how prepared they can be, but then Mat is one of theirs.
Then he moves to pour them all a drink.
"From what I can tell, so long as you can avoid the military and their greedy hands for able bodied men," he says, giving a quick look at Jesper, not hiding that concern he's held for as long as he's been there. "Then it's much easier than the others. Reminds me a lot of home, honestly," he admits, bringing glasses to them both.
Mat tries not to gawk. But the city here is so different than what he's used to. The buildings, the clothes, even the colors. It's all new to him, and he can't stop looking around as he hustled away from where the authorities are.
But he flops gratefully in a chair when they've made it to the rooms Kaz and Jesper call their own.
"I've got Thorne convinced I'm a silly, shallow fellow who's only good for music and laughs. Shouldn't be too hard to convince the folks here of the same." It's an easy role for him to play. And a safe one.
"And I've no information that'd be interested in, I've never even stepped foot inside the court of the current regime. I certainly have knowledge of the people, but I doubt they have much use for knowing what Thornian housewives are in open marriages or who tips their musicians the best."
Jesper doesn't bother to show the same paranoia because he knows automatically that Kaz will do it. He's always got his eye on their backs so he knows without watching him that Kaz is making certain they're not followed, he's unsurprised when he handling the windows and put his cane at the door. Jesper agrees with him. This seems too good to be true and he wonders if in a few hours the army will be banging on their door saying they've decided to lock them in the barracks for now. It won't go well for them if they do.
"Not as many thieves and troublemakers as in Ketterdam, unfortunately." This to Kaz. It's probably his least favorite part of Cadens. Too much army, not enough criminals with their own code, like the Dregs. For now they can focus on Mat though, not on the problems that could come with him. Jesper is determined to be happy.
He takes the drink offered and sits on a chair next to Mat, leaning into him automatically, putting an arm around his shoulders. He kisses his cheek and then leans his head against him, apparently unhappy unless they are touching in various ways. He's starving for the concept of Mat safe and sound in his arms where Thorne can't get him. He's only been dreaming of this for years.
"I was playing the fashion fool for a time but unfortunately blowing up a base put me a bit in their crosshairs, so spend more time with Kaz in public, perhaps, in these first few days." Kaz isn't the one who decided to get on the military's radar with both his actions and his abilities. It wasn't a happy set of consequences, but in typical Jesper form, he regrets nothing.
"Can't wait to show you Aquila and Libertas though, maybe we should have a beach day, mmm?" He waggles his eyebrows playfully at Kaz. Who stays in his black no matter where they go.
A life of being three steps ahead of paranoia means that Kaz usually has six plans in place at any given time. None of that could prepare him for what was essentially a breakdown of the entire system here. At least from what he heard on the streets. It wasn't just Mat. The army would have their hands full for a time, and that he was used to; taking advantage of what little time they have to plan.
But while the wheels may be turning, he knows now isn't the time for planning. Not between them. Jesper and Mat needed this time.
Mention of blowing up the base though got Jesper a sour look.
"Some of us know the value of playing a role and seeing the long term pictures," he points out, as if they haven't had this talk before. "For now though, it's likely we need to consider our options both while they're distracted and before they can regroup."
He holds up one hand as soon as he says it. "That is not this moment. Just bringing it up before you plan more vacations of sitting in the sun." He says it like he proposed diving with sharks perhaps.
"Kaz gets it!" Mat turns a grin to the most somber of their little trio. "But I do concede that sometimes circumstances force one to reveal one's true nature."
A nod to Jesper, as he simply sinks comfortably against him.
"Anyhow, I'm not too worried." He does still have his letter. Granted it was issued by the former government, but still. He's not above making a great grand fuss if need be. And besides. He's an entertainer. He's loud and publicly known, if not as well as some others. He could be a real pain in their arse, if he wants to be.
"Honestly? The current king's a lot less scary than the old queen. And the folks in charge here want Summoned just as badly, yeah? I were them, I wouldn't be too keen to make anyone go back that wanted to stay...."
Jesper sticks his tongue out at Kaz, mostly because he has no verbal argument he can make for his behavior. Something that wasn't surprising to any of them given his general everything, but he did end up learning a lesson from it. He'll be more careful now. Kaz has said what he needed about the situation and they don't need to rehash, but he gets to take his verbal snaps about it any time he wants.
"Alright we can wait a week before going to the beach." He kicks out the nearest chair to encourage Kaz to sit in it, and once he does he'll lean forward to snag it closer to them. So what if he wants both of them near him within easy grabbing distance, he's allowed. They're his partners for life, Jesper is going to take advantage of every opportunity to lean into this lucky twist.
"They'll take you back over my dead body," Jesper says, cheerfully. And sincerely. "But they did say you could leave the last time I made a scene. We'll just all make a scene this time, they'll have thrice the reason to let it go." The point was that Mat wasn't going to pick Thorne this time. He was exactly where he needed to be. Jesper has no doubt they'll manage to make this work, now that the three of them were in sync with each other.
"My men are both here, I'm going to burst." He grins. "I'm not sorry for the level of snuggly I'm about to get, my loves."
"Mmm, less scary royalty. Means they're likely just better at hiding things and not into bluster. I've only met one I didn't despise."
He wouldn't say he entirely liked him but it wasn't despising him. He'd come around a bit more to him in this place.
Much as there might have been in the past, there is little hesitation as he moves to settle in beside Jesper. For a moment he seems distant though, his mind going to another time and place when the three of them had sat together. How different things had been then, but enough to put Kaz on a path in this place that he had no desire to give up. Some might not have believed it was real. He refused to believe anything but, especially with their shapeshifted forms.
He gives a snort at Jesper's cheerful murder plans, shaking his head. "You know, it's always amazing to me that as the Bastard of the Barrel, you're the one that just guns them all down. At least I have the decency to torture some first," he says, as if that's entirely normal and sane.
"Whatever they try, we'll figure it out. Sorry to say, Mat. You made a choice once. You're ours now. I'm bad about giving things back once they're mine."
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For Jesper and Kaz
But it's only for a few moments, until he realizes just where he is. And how fortuitous it may be that he's landed here. The first thing he does, after the important info is relayed, is to send a frantic mental note to both Jesper and Kaz, hoping to Light at least one of them got back here.
It seems a lot of them may be quite displaced. Maybe if neither of them made it back, he could try Master Jaskier. He lives in Cadens. Hopefully it won't come to that. Fate can't be so very cruel as to dump him where the two men in his life are and dump them somewhere else.
Right?
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They're in a bit of a rush when they get to Portam Hall and Jesper's eyes are wild as he looks everywhere possible, his head jerking around, waiting to see if he can find that familiar mop of dark curls. "There." He murmurs to Kaz, and he's running through the hall. He whistles in warning and then he's slamming into Mat with an eager embrace, pulling his long-time lover into his arms as soon as possible.
"You're here, it's actually you." And it's actually here!
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And still that message comes as a shock, blinking at Jesper a moment before they're on their feet.
Not caring that it hurts to push himself, even if he knows Jesper will hold himself back for Kaz, because the pain simply isn't as important as getting to Portam Hall. Listening as they go, frowning as he considers what this might all mean as he hears of others missing people... or finding them as they seek out Mat.
Before he can say anything, Jesper is off at a long legged run, shaking his head as he follows behind him more sedately. Pausing to lean on his cane, watching the pair for a moment with a small nod no one is likely to notice.
"Well it took you long enough, didn't it?"
He's glad to see Mat too, obviously.
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Of course Mat hadn't been planning to defect to the Free Cities just yet, but who is he to argue with the workings of gods and greater powers? He's here now. And relatively certain he's not going to accidentally do anything disastrous.
Hopefully.
"Long enough, maybe, but not intentionally! Just ended up here!"
He's hugging Jesper back and laughing because right now he can't think of any other way to express himself. He's feeling far too many things at once right now!
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He grins over his shoulder at Kaz for his dry comment. It's mattered so much to him that Mat and Kaz not only made their peace but began to care for each other too. It makes his life easier knowing his two closest loves are friendly, and their experience in that vision only proves how good they can all be together.
He slings an arm around Mat's waist and tugs him. "You're staying here now if it's the last bloody thing I do." But no need to worry about fighting Thorne over it just yet. This is only a good thing. "You'll be staying with us in the loft, we have plenty of space." Four people used to live up there comfortably so three will be easy enough. He doesn't ask Kaz because he knows him well enough to make that guess.
Although he does shoot him a quick glance like 'right?'
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Better than he knows how to express.
So instead he stands there, his expression soft and content, a lack of tightness around his mouth that very few might remember from that time when he'd walked without a limp and lived as a god. These two might though.
"Of course he will," he says with a nod, glad that Jesper brought it up. He isn't sure if he said it that Mat might not argue with him. Just on principle, because he knew he would.
"Come on. Let's get back there for the time being. Get a drink or something." Hide Mat away before the soldiers or someone tries to change their mind. That kind of or something.
He steps closer though, offering his hand. He's been trying not to turn to his gloves for every day. He doesn't offer many his hands bare though, but again, this is Mat.
"I'm glad you're here."
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He slips one arm around Jesper in turn, and gladly takes the hand Kaz offers. It still feels damned special, that the other man allows him that intimacy. Light, his head is still spinning.
"A plan I can agree with, my good man. I could certainly use a rest and a drink. And something a bit cooler to wear, I thought I was going back to proper winter! I'm not prepared for a desert holiday."
Or however long this lasts. He won't think about that now.
"I'll need you two to show me the ropes 'round here."
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He also agrees that getting Mat away from the military dealing with the incident is the best thing for them. He never trusts them. He releases Mat and instead holds his other hand. (Jesper has two hands and so do they. That's the best part.) They can walk together to Mag's Inn.
Jesper drags Mat up the stairs to the attic once they arrive. It's a nice and comfortable space, frankly better than most of the other rooms even if Jesper worked hard to re-do all of them a bit ago. It's more like its own apartment and it's very lived in now that they've been there.
"I'll remake some of my clothes to fit you." Jesper's fashion is specifically designed for Cadens, so it'll suit him. "No more winter for you, my love."
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And Kaz would deal with anyone that might follow them.
Yet no one did, and that alone felt suspicious to him. Enough so that he locked the door behind them, then propped his cane not by the door but under the handle. Crossing to the windows, doing the same there, showing more of his paranoia than he lets most see from him. He didn't want others to know how prepared they can be, but then Mat is one of theirs.
Then he moves to pour them all a drink.
"From what I can tell, so long as you can avoid the military and their greedy hands for able bodied men," he says, giving a quick look at Jesper, not hiding that concern he's held for as long as he's been there. "Then it's much easier than the others. Reminds me a lot of home, honestly," he admits, bringing glasses to them both.
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Mat tries not to gawk. But the city here is so different than what he's used to. The buildings, the clothes, even the colors. It's all new to him, and he can't stop looking around as he hustled away from where the authorities are.
But he flops gratefully in a chair when they've made it to the rooms Kaz and Jesper call their own.
"I've got Thorne convinced I'm a silly, shallow fellow who's only good for music and laughs. Shouldn't be too hard to convince the folks here of the same." It's an easy role for him to play. And a safe one.
"And I've no information that'd be interested in, I've never even stepped foot inside the court of the current regime. I certainly have knowledge of the people, but I doubt they have much use for knowing what Thornian housewives are in open marriages or who tips their musicians the best."
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"Not as many thieves and troublemakers as in Ketterdam, unfortunately." This to Kaz. It's probably his least favorite part of Cadens. Too much army, not enough criminals with their own code, like the Dregs. For now they can focus on Mat though, not on the problems that could come with him. Jesper is determined to be happy.
He takes the drink offered and sits on a chair next to Mat, leaning into him automatically, putting an arm around his shoulders. He kisses his cheek and then leans his head against him, apparently unhappy unless they are touching in various ways. He's starving for the concept of Mat safe and sound in his arms where Thorne can't get him. He's only been dreaming of this for years.
"I was playing the fashion fool for a time but unfortunately blowing up a base put me a bit in their crosshairs, so spend more time with Kaz in public, perhaps, in these first few days." Kaz isn't the one who decided to get on the military's radar with both his actions and his abilities. It wasn't a happy set of consequences, but in typical Jesper form, he regrets nothing.
"Can't wait to show you Aquila and Libertas though, maybe we should have a beach day, mmm?" He waggles his eyebrows playfully at Kaz. Who stays in his black no matter where they go.
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But while the wheels may be turning, he knows now isn't the time for planning. Not between them. Jesper and Mat needed this time.
Mention of blowing up the base though got Jesper a sour look.
"Some of us know the value of playing a role and seeing the long term pictures," he points out, as if they haven't had this talk before. "For now though, it's likely we need to consider our options both while they're distracted and before they can regroup."
He holds up one hand as soon as he says it. "That is not this moment. Just bringing it up before you plan more vacations of sitting in the sun." He says it like he proposed diving with sharks perhaps.
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A nod to Jesper, as he simply sinks comfortably against him.
"Anyhow, I'm not too worried." He does still have his letter. Granted it was issued by the former government, but still. He's not above making a great grand fuss if need be. And besides. He's an entertainer. He's loud and publicly known, if not as well as some others. He could be a real pain in their arse, if he wants to be.
"Honestly? The current king's a lot less scary than the old queen. And the folks in charge here want Summoned just as badly, yeah? I were them, I wouldn't be too keen to make anyone go back that wanted to stay...."
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"Alright we can wait a week before going to the beach." He kicks out the nearest chair to encourage Kaz to sit in it, and once he does he'll lean forward to snag it closer to them. So what if he wants both of them near him within easy grabbing distance, he's allowed. They're his partners for life, Jesper is going to take advantage of every opportunity to lean into this lucky twist.
"They'll take you back over my dead body," Jesper says, cheerfully. And sincerely. "But they did say you could leave the last time I made a scene. We'll just all make a scene this time, they'll have thrice the reason to let it go." The point was that Mat wasn't going to pick Thorne this time. He was exactly where he needed to be. Jesper has no doubt they'll manage to make this work, now that the three of them were in sync with each other.
"My men are both here, I'm going to burst." He grins. "I'm not sorry for the level of snuggly I'm about to get, my loves."
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He wouldn't say he entirely liked him but it wasn't despising him. He'd come around a bit more to him in this place.
Much as there might have been in the past, there is little hesitation as he moves to settle in beside Jesper. For a moment he seems distant though, his mind going to another time and place when the three of them had sat together. How different things had been then, but enough to put Kaz on a path in this place that he had no desire to give up. Some might not have believed it was real. He refused to believe anything but, especially with their shapeshifted forms.
He gives a snort at Jesper's cheerful murder plans, shaking his head. "You know, it's always amazing to me that as the Bastard of the Barrel, you're the one that just guns them all down. At least I have the decency to torture some first," he says, as if that's entirely normal and sane.
"Whatever they try, we'll figure it out. Sorry to say, Mat. You made a choice once. You're ours now. I'm bad about giving things back once they're mine."
Totally not a threat, right?